Pediculosis Pubis: 
Diagnosis and management

permethrin 1% cream rinse topical from chest to knees washed off after 10 minutes with repeated treatment 1 week later (ADEC B2)

Permethrin should be applied to clean and cool skin. The patient should not take a hot bath or shower prior to treatment.

Apply to infected and adjacent hairy areas 

Nits should be removed with a fine toothed comb.

Sex partners should be treated concurrently.

Clothing and bed linen contaminated by the patient within the past 2 days should be washed and dried by machine (hot cycle) or dry cleaned.

If the eyelashes are infested, white soft paraffin (Lacri-Lube) can be applied to the lashes, and then the eggs removed, twice a day. This treatment should be continued for 7 to 10 days.

The following points should be discussed:

• Nature of the infection

• Stress all the therapeutic features, and the need for concurrent treatment of regular sex partners.

• Non-sexual transmission of crabs is possible, but in almost all instances transmission is the result of prolonged close physical contact.

• Advise that the itch can last for a few days following treatment.

• Provide literature on pediculosis.